I found this 1970 Montgomery Catalog among my parents’ possessions.
I am sure Mom and Dad kept it because of the cute puppies. They were dog lovers too.
I wonder how many puppies Montgomery Ward sold that year!?! Thankfully, my Mom and Dad chose to let us adopt an “accidental” mutt instead.
Misty, a beagle/collie mix, was a wild yet wonderful part of our family for 18 years!
And she taught me to love snow. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…!
Borage, my beloved husky sidekick and business partner, back in his day… and me looking a little bit younger as well! I miss you, Borage.
2016 will be my 16th year giving Iditarod School Presentations across the country! Contact Karen and Romano now to get on the 2016 talk and/or Skype schedule…
Yes, there is a student somewhere under that Trans-Alaskan suit…
Thank you to Kate Walters and her dad, and the staff and students of Meadowbrook Elementary School in Forrest, Illinois for making Romano and me feel right at home! We really enjoyed our afternoon “talking mushing” with you. The students were an engaged, well-prepared (they knew all of the answers!), and perfectly-behaved audience. It was a fun day.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race begins Saturday, March 5, 2016. If your school or library is interested in an Iditarod presentation or Skype session, email me now to get on the 2016 schedule. MUSH!
Romano enjoying a free run through the beautiful local cemetery after the talk.
This Summer 2015 Romano and his sidekick, Karen, continue to Skype about dog mushing with schools and libraries across the globe.
Dot Land and Nancy taking a break.
Aunt Dot with her beloved Borage (who ate her umbrella) and Jigs.
It’s been a long while for us both. But, thankfully, dog mushing is like riding a bicycle (or a scooter)… you never forget!
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A sled dog’s favorite things…
Fresh snow and fresh straw!
Today, Lolo is enjoying the early arrival of her 14th winter. 
It’s hard to believe that it has been almost eleven years since Lolo (along with Pig, on the right) led our 16-dog team out of Anchorage on the 2004 Iditarod…
And, of course, both of my tiny, 40-lb. girls led the entire 1,100-miles across Alaska… girl-power at its finest. The photo below is our team climbing up off of the sea ice of Norton Sound and onto the Front Street of Nome. That year was our best time at 12 days, 6 hours, 45 minutes, and 19 seconds…
At age 14.5, running still brings Lolo joy… which, in turn, makes me smile too.
Mush!
In honor of hunting season, here’s another vintage photograph from my collection.
Written on the back of this image (taken in “Italiana”) are the words: “dog and rifle.”
String of Dogs 